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Daily Dish: 5/21/2014

The Lowell Sun

Updated:
05/21/2014 06:48:30 AM EDT

In this photo taken Friday, Macklemore of the group Macklemore & Ryan Lewis strikes a pose as he performs "Thrift Shop" to a mob of waving fans during Vivid: Spectacle Opening Night Party at the EMP Museum in Seattle. AP Photo/The Seattle Times, Lindsey Wasson

Rapper Macklemore posted an apology on his website late Monday, saying he didn't mean to mock Jewish people by wearing a costume that some say was anti-Semitic during a performance in Seattle last week.

Macklemore wrote that he randomly chose the pieces of the costume he wore at Friday's performance so that he could disguise himself and move freely around during the secret show. He said it wasn't meant to be a caricature of a Jewish man.

"I respect all cultures and all people," he wrote. "I would never intentionally put down anybody for the fabric that makes them who they are. I love human beings, love originality, and ... happen to love a weird outfit from time to time."

Grammy Award winners Macklemore & Ryan Lewis made the appearance at the EMP Museum in their hometown to help celebrate the debut of a new exhibition.

Adrien Brody to play Charles V

Filming hasn't started yet, but Adrien Brody is already starting to think about how he'll research his latest role as a 16th century emperor.

The Oscar-winner has signed on to play Charles V in "Emperor," a Lee Tamahori film that explores the reign of the Roman Empire ruler. Brody appeared with Tamahori to talk up the film in Cannes.

"Now is the time to amass all the information and sit with it and let it become a part of me, and so we will do that and see what we come up with," he said in an interview Monday.

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The film won't be a studious version of Charles V's time in power. Promotional materials promise a film that explores "wealth, debauchery, violent relations, sex, manipulation and treason" and Brody said it's not aiming to be a historical document.

"We're consolidating 35 years in to two. There will be a great deal of imagination in play here and that's what's exciting," he said.

Amanda Peet has deal for children's book

Are you there, Santa? Amanda Peet is calling.

Random House Children's Books announced Tuesday that it will release "Dear Santa, Love Rachel Rosenstein," a picture book that the actress-playwright collaborated on with her friend Andrea Troyer. Publication is set for fall 2015.

The story revolves around a young Jewish girl who wonders why Santa doesn't visit her house. According to a statement Peet issued through Random House, she was inspired by her two children, who asked why the family didn't have a Christmas tree or holiday lights. Peet says she wanted to write about the feeling of being "left out."

BET to air discussion about Nigerian kidnapping

The BET television network is airing a special discussion this week on the sexual exploitation of children, an idea set in motion by the kidnapping of nearly 300 Nigerian schoolgirls by Islamic extremists.

The town hall-style discussion is called "Stolen Innocence: Your Daughters Are Our Daughters." It will air Friday night on BET and will be repeated Saturday on the Centric network. It was taped Saturday in Atlanta.

Participants include activist-actors Nicole Ari Parker and Tasha Smith, along with singer India.Arie and minister Dr. Bernice King. BET says the special will discuss the problem of human trafficking throughout the world and its impact on communities. It will also include an update from Nigeria on the latest about the missing girls.

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